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Post by Elcano on Aug 30, 2022 9:23:02 GMT
Hi, I discovered some water (not salty) in the bilge under the fridge. A little inspection with the "spy eye" delivered these pictures.    It seems that this insulated hose, which feels cold when you touch it, produces moisture. The little metal tube next to it is also cold. As far as I can see these hoses enter the fridge motor. I will turn the fridge off today to see if this hose is the cause for the water. Do you have more ideas or experiences on this topic? Thank you! Cheers Elcano |
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Post by Zanshin on Aug 30, 2022 13:40:20 GMT
This would be the return hose from the fridge/freezer evaporator plate that returns the gas back to the compressor. The fridge compressor pushes out a hot/warm fluid to the evaporator, where it evaporates and cools the fridge and then returns as a cold gas. In order to prevent condensation this tube is insulated.
The insulation looks to be OK. Does the fridge cool as expected? Is the evaporator plate frozen all the way, top to bottom? If the performance isn't as expected then the return line might be too cold, which could indicate a bad charge on the coolant or problems with a pressure regulator.
Boat refrigeration is tricky since the gas volumes are so small. If the fridge is working and not drawing excessive power, then a certain amount of condensation is acceptable in hot, humid conditions. If it isn't working as expected then it might be best to get a technician to look at it.
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Post by zaphod on Aug 30, 2022 18:56:33 GMT
That is the suction line, and it is normal for it to get very cold during operation. It is insulated in part to try to prevent condensation from forming, but if the insulation is compromised or has become soaked it can still sweat in very humid conditions.
How long has your fridge been running for? When was the last time you defrosted it? What is the ambient humidity?
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Post by Elcano on Oct 7, 2022 18:17:39 GMT
This would be the return hose from the fridge/freezer evaporator plate that returns the gas back to the compressor. The fridge compressor pushes out a hot/warm fluid to the evaporator, where it evaporates and cools the fridge and then returns as a cold gas. In order to prevent condensation this tube is insulated. The insulation looks to be OK. Does the fridge cool as expected? Is the evaporator plate frozen all the way, top to bottom? If the performance isn't as expected then the return line might be too cold, which could indicate a bad charge on the coolant or problems with a pressure regulator. Boat refrigeration is tricky since the gas volumes are so small. If the fridge is working and not drawing excessive power, then a certain amount of condensation is acceptable in hot, humid conditions. If it isn't working as expected then it might be best to get a technician to look at it. Thank you Zanshin, it seems to me that the performance of the fridge is normal, stuff is cold and the small compartment for the ice cubes also works properly. Can you please help me to find the evaporator plate? Thanks for the hint. I will also check the power consumption again! After I turned the fridge off for a week, no water occurred! |
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Post by Elcano on Oct 7, 2022 18:23:31 GMT
That is the suction line, and it is normal for it to get very cold during operation. It is insulated in part to try to prevent condensation from forming, but if the insulation is compromised or has become soaked it can still sweat in very humid conditions. How long has your fridge been running for? When was the last time you defrosted it? What is the ambient humidity? The fridge is running since may with two weeks pause. We are in Sicily so the humidity is between 55 and 70%. Yes I defrosted it multiple times. Last time about 3 weeks ago As it got cooler in the last weeks, I do not have ice around the freezing compartment anymore, like I had in the height of summer. |
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Post by sitara on Oct 7, 2022 21:11:09 GMT
Hi Elcano, In these fridges with a compartment for ice cubes/freezing the compartment is the evaporator plate. Some models did not have a compartment and the evaaporator plate was mounted on the side of the fridge cavity. Hope this helps, Rob
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Post by Elcano on Oct 8, 2022 13:13:29 GMT
Thank you Rob. That was pretty heavy covered with ice during July and August.
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Post by zaphod on Oct 8, 2022 16:12:32 GMT
Thank you Rob. That was pretty heavy covered with ice during July and August. You should defrost the evaporator coil regularly to avoid heavy ice build up on it. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but ice acts like an insulator and reduces the ability of the evaporator to absorb heat, thus reducing efficiency dramatically. When defrosting the coil do NOT chip away the ice with any kind of hard or sharp object. The evaporator plate is very fragile, and you will damage it. To defrost it, turn the fridge off and let it defrost naturally. If you want to speed up the process, you can use hot water. |
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Post by Elcano on Nov 28, 2022 16:25:49 GMT
Thank you zaphod,
did it quite frequently. I probably need to check the rubber seal of the door/lid next. One more item on the todo list :-)
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